Newsletter

UAS adds program to address psychological distress on campus

College can be a stressful time, and those at the University of Alaska Southeast will soon be able to better identify signs of psychological distress.

Partnering with the Juneau Suicide Prevention Coalition, UAS is providing a training program called Kognito At-Risk to students, faculty and staff. The online program uses simulated scenarios to teach people how to see signs of psychological distress and how to respond to those who might be at risk.

The training also aims to help destigmatize mental illness. According to Kognito, only 40 percent of U.S. college students seek help for psychological distress because of the stigma around it and an overall lack of knowledge of what help is available on campus.

Margie Thomson, coordinator of UAS counseling, health and disability services, said adding this program could lead to a better understanding of psychological distress on all three UAS campuses.

“These trainings help our UAS community better respond to those students in distress, supporting them, connecting them to resources, and possibly saving a life,” Thomson said in a release.